Mark9473
Carpal Tunnel
   
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 2699
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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I'm preparing to sell off several of my binoculars. In preparation for that, what is a good way of preparing binoculars for shipping, without having to worry much about their condition when they arrive?
-------------------- Mark
Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63
WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici
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Markus
Postmaster
   
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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Hi Mark. when I shipped two pairs of binocs I had, I used lots of newspaper wrapped all around the binoculars and then more newspaper or foam packing around the box that they go in. Some people use that peanut foam stuff and leave the binocs in their packaging and/or boxes. Always OVERPACK for a safe and sound journey.
-------------------- 25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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Les
professor emeritus
   
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 666
Loc: Maryland
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Mark,
The obvious one is to focus to minimum eyepiece extension before packing.
When selling premium binos, I have insisted that the buyer purchase the hard shell foam lined case that I kept them in even if they already had a case. Then I double boxed this in a cardboard box (a reinforced TV box is great for large optics) that was lined on all sides with 3 inches of styrofoam sheets. I pack to withstand a six foot drop because that is typical in unloading a truck. Obviously, if you are selling $75 binos, this is overkill. But I have never had any problems shipping binos and Mak telescopes this way.
-------------------- Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
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Falcon Birder
super member
Reged: 04/16/07
Posts: 111
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Never shipped a binocular before. But when I got my Zen-Ray binoculars, I noticed it was nicely packed in with a lot of peanut bubbles. I am sure used newspaper will do a good job as well as long as you crumble a lot of them to allow enough support.
-------------------- Zen-Ray SUMMIT 10x42 WP
Swaroski 8.5x42 EL
Leica 8x32 Ultravid
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Littlegreenman
Pooh-Bah
   
Reged: 05/09/05
Posts: 1021
Loc: Southern California
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Overpack, double box, and stuff things so there is no bouncing around. One purpose of packaging foam, peanuts, or bubbles is to firm up the box so that will resist compression. A six foot drop or even a 10 foot drop is common. Modern shipping now relies on a lot of mechanized sorting; address are read optically and then sorted via conveyor belts etc, and often drop into a bin and then have more items drop on top of your precious cargo.
By the way, the optical address readers are why it's nice to use a printed form with some kind of bar code or target code that can be scanned. The US Postal Service even has standards for address: All capitols, sans serif fonts and suggested specific fonts. I'm also pretty sure those automated systems cannot understand the work "Fragile."
Finally, faster is safer, and has less exposure to handling. Parcel Post, for example, is loaded on trucks on an 'available space' basis, after the Priority and Expedited mail. This means it may sit around on a loading dock for a few days, during which time it may be moved, jostled, before it is moved along to the next loading dock. Worse in December during the holidays.
That's my advice. LGM
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
  
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2759
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Timely question as I just shipped my Fujinon 25x150 binoculars.
This is the factory shipping double box...The space between the inner and outer box is filled with foam peanuts
-------------------- 10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
Edited by Mr. Bill (10/31/07 04:09 PM)
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
  
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2759
Loc: Just passing through.....
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This is the binos in the inner box...
-------------------- 10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
   
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2457
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Mr. Bill- I hope you used my home address, and not my post office box??? I'd hate for those beautiful bino's to go astray on their way to me... can send you my address again if you want to double-check???
-------------------- Wes
Atlantic Beach, FL
Some bino’s from Miyauchi 5x32 Binon's up through Garrett 20x110 Signature's,
Some telescopes from a Stellarvue 80mm NHNG up through a couple of 8” reflectors…
And a wonderful 4.25" Delmarva Shiefspiegler!
Some good friends, made here on C/N.
Oh- several cats and a wonderful wife!
Anyone want a cat???? :-O
"When your work speaks for itself- Don't Interrupt" -Gamble Rogers
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Mark9473
Carpal Tunnel
   
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 2699
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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How could I let you beat me to that, Wes!
Thanks for the pictures Mr. Bill, and thanks all for the advice. I'm sure it'll come in useful when the day comes.
-------------------- Mark
Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63
WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
  
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2759
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Quote:
Mr. Bill- I hope you used my home address, and not my post office box??? I'd hate for those beautiful bino's to go astray on their way to me... can send you my address again if you want to double-check???
Private sale...never made it to the open market.
-------------------- 10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
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KennyJ
   
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10146
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Thanks for those re - assuring photos , Mr.Bill .
I hope they arrive in perfect condition ! :-)
Regards Kenny
-------------------- If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton
Zeiss 7 x 42 BGAT
Captain's Helmsman 7 x 50
Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E
Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50
Helios 15 x 70 Observation
Strathspey 20 x 90
Televue 76 APO
Zeiss 85 Diascope
Helios 102 f5 refractor
Various eyepieces barlows tripods mounts etc.
Panasonic Lumix DMC - TZ5 digital camera
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
  
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2759
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Quote:
Thanks for those re - assuring photos , Mr.Bill .
I hope they arrive in perfect condition ! :-)
Regards
Kenny
so does UPS...they're insured for $7000 (retail replacement value).
Hint...if you have high value item, let UPS store do final packing. That way, if there's a claim, the store is dealing with UPS over the claim, not you.
-------------------- 10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
Edited by Mr. Bill (10/31/07 06:25 PM)
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